The Green Bay Packers marched into the SuperDome Sunday night with bad intentions on their mind. The predicted shootout did not disappoint as the Packers secured the game in the closing minutes with an Aaron Rodgers’ touchdown throw to tight end Robert Tonyan. The Packers would go on to win the game 37-30 over the New Orleans Saints.
What can I say? The Packers are red hot right now. The offense has cranked it up to 11, and it seems every time they get the ball points are going up on the board. The Packers were even missing star wideout Davante Adams, and they put up 37 on a solid Saints defense. It really seems like Lafleur and Rodger’s have tapped into something special this year and are on the same page with the play calling. Not to mention the monster coming out of the backfield, Mr. Touchdowns himself, Aaron Jones.
The critics of the Packers seemed to have washed away the past couple of weeks. I haven’t heard questions of why they didn’t pick a wide receiver in the draft. The “Aaron Rodgers is washed” media that has been circling around for the past four years has vanished, and all’s right with the world. Waking up this morning it truly is a great Monday to be a Packer fan.
If there is a negative lining to last night’s game, it had to be with the defense. The problems have been what I’ve talked about since week 1. We can’t stop the run. It’s not the strength of this defense, and last night it was exposed yet again. Now, I think this was amplified once again by Kenny Clark, the standout nose tackle, not playing, and then amplified even further after middle linebacker Christian Kirksey went down. But the issue remains, and that is how this Packers team will lose football games this season. The same way we lost them last season, teams getting a lead early, controlling the clock, and running the ball down the throat of the defense.
All that being said, I think this defense, unlike Packer’s defenses in the past, really compliments the offense. The offense this year scores points. This forces the other team to pass the football in order to keep up, and that is where this defense thrives. We have pass rushers, playmakers in the secondary, and when Kenny Clark plays a push from the middle. Now we didn’t see this as much against the Saints last night because Drew Brees took every check down that was given to him. I think the dude was averaging less than 5 yards downfield a pass attempt, and this led to a huge game by Alvin Kamara.
I’m not too concerned with how the defense played last night though. The Saints came in with the game plan to not allow our pass rush to be effective, and they did a great job of that. They also did an exceptional job of executing a dink and dunk offense, and for the majority of the game moved the ball very well against the Packers. But guess what? They still lost. How many teams in the league execute as well as the Saints? How many teams have a quarterback as good as Drew Brees with a back that can catch like Alvin Kamara? To beat this Packers team, you not only have to score, but you have to do it either running the ball, or in a very nonexplosive way. If you drop back for longer than 3 seconds against this defense your quarterback is getting hit. So, could the defense have been better? Yes! Of course, it would be nice to stop the run, but this defense isn’t built that way. The Packers are built to score points, get a lead, make you throw downfield, and get sacks once you start throwing downfield.
Studs of the Game
Allen Lazard
Without Davante Adams, the Devin Booker look alike had a breakout game. He also did a great job run blocking and I’m really excited to see him take this game and build upon it.
Za’darius Smith
The leader of the defense had the biggest play of the game on defense stripping Taysom Hill. Not to be a hater but taking Drew Brees off the field last night cost the Saints the game. Imagine If the Packers had a fast quarterback who could catch, and they took out Aaron Rodgers to put that guy in. Would you be mad? I would! Hey Saints, don’t take Hall of Famers off the field for niche players the media over hypes.
Duds of the Game
Everyone involved in that Alvin Karma 75-yard touchdown pass. Holy balls I have not been more embarrassed for my team’s defense sense Lagarrette Blunt ran through us back when he was on Tampa Bay. Great play by Kamara, but 5 guys missed tackles and it made me want to tear my eyes out.
Notable adds
- Kenny Clark and Davante Adams didn’t play.
- Christian Kirksey went out with a shoulder.
- Aaron Jones scored again.
- Jake Sternberger caught a pass.
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